- 35mm x 45mm
- Light, preferably white, background
- Face must take up 70% – 80% of the picture
- Neutral facial expression
In the event that the student is a minor, he or she must have a signed document consenting to the travel by both parents or legal guardians.
All documents that are not in Italian or English have to be translated by an authorized translator.
Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list. Different countries or Italian embassies may have different requirements, so you have to check in with them before you submit your application. An incomplete submission will be rejected and you have to apply at a later date. This will push back the processing time, which is sometimes quite lengthy as it is.
How Much Bank Balance Do I Need for an Italy Student Visa?
To obtain a student visa in Italy, you must show proof that you have a minimum of €460.28 per month (as of 2023) during your stay in the country with a student visa. You can show proof of financial means by submitting bank statements, a sponsor letter, or evidence that another third party is financing you to study in Italy.
How to apply for an Italy Student Visa?
You must apply for the Italian student visa in your home country’s Italian embassy or consulate. In the event that no Italian embassy/consulate operates in your country, you have to apply to whatever location that Italy has outsourced visa submissions to. This could be a Visa Application Center or the embassy/consulate of another Schengen country.
However, you first have to contact them to book an appointment. Afterward, you gather all the required documents and submit them in person on your arranged date.
Make sure to bring the originals of all your documents as well as photocopies and that you have everything.
On the day you apply, you will also enter a visa interview.
Keep the visa processing time in mind when you apply for your visa. It takes around three weeks, sometimes more, for an application to be processed. So, you have to apply:
- At the latest: Two weeks before your planned trip
- At the earliest: Three months before your planned trip
If you have all the necessary documents, and the Italian embassy decides you meet the conditions, you will receive your Italian student visa.
Once you do, you may enter Italy where you have to apply for an Italian residence permit.
How Much Does an Italy Student Visa Cost?
The processing fee for an Italy student visa is €50. However, the price may differ depending on your nationality, and this does not include other additional costs or service fees.
Residence Permit for Italy Student Visa
Within eight days of entering Italy with a student visa, you must approach your local post office to submit a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) application. There, you will receive an application kit with the necessary forms. You also need to submit the following documents:
- A copy of your passport, specifically the bio-data page and your visa pages.
- A copy of your health insurance.
- A copy of your acceptance letter to your university.
Your local Italian post office will give you a receipt confirming your residence permit request. Then, you also have to apply at the local Italian Questura (the police headquarters). You have to submit a residence permit request for “Study – University”.
Can you work with an Italy Student Visa?
With a student visa for Italy, you are only allowed to work part time. Meaning, for a maximum of 20 hours per week and 1,040 hours per year.
In addition, once your studies are finished, you can apply to convert your residence permit from a student one, to a work permit. You can only do this once the Italian immigration system for non-EU foreign workers, the “decreto flussi” is opened.
How long is the Italy Student Visa valid?
The Italian study visa is available for a maximum of one year initially, with the possibility of renewal for the duration of your courses.
However, in order for you to have the renew a student visa, you have to pass all your yearly exams at university.
Can I Bring My Family Members With Me to Italy On a Student Visa?
You can only bring close family members to Italy under an Italian visa, such as your spouse or children. To bring them with you, they must apply for an Italy family visa. However, they cannot begin applying for a family visa unless you apply first for an authorization known as “Nulla Osta”.
Once you apply for a “Nulla Osta” for your family members, the immigration office in your local area will process your request. If the authorization is granted, the immigration office will send it to you so you can forward it to your family member abroad. At the same time, the immigration office will also send it to your home country’s corresponding Italian embassy or consulate. Once a “Nulla Osta” is granted, your family members can begin applying for an Italy family visa.
